Overview

• Shai Carmeli-Pollak’s The Sea won Best Film at the Ophir Awards, making it Israel’s official submission for the 2026 Academy Award for Best International Feature.
• Culture Minister Miki Zohar called the win “disgraceful” and said state support for the Ophirs will end with the 2026 budget in response to the film’s portrayal of Israeli soldiers.
• The Association for Civil Rights in Israel and other legal voices say Zohar likely lacks authority to withhold funds, signaling potential legal scrutiny of the decision.
• The Israeli Academy defended its vote as a professional process and praised the Arabic- and Hebrew-language production, a Jewish–Palestinian collaboration that also took acting and screenplay honors.
• Thousands of film professionals have backed a boycott targeting Israeli film institutions, adding international pressure as Israel’s Oscars submission advances toward December’s shortlist.